We were lucky to catch up with Kendra Erika Fulmer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kendra Erika, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
When I first graduated high school, I wanted to jet off to either New York or LA to begin acting, singing, performing. My parents quickly intervened in that and, it was my mom who told me that she would still support the performing career as long as I went to college to get a degree in something other than music. In hindsight, by the grace of God, my mom protected me from being another young predator bait, and meltdown story statistic in the industry. So, I went to college, Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL, for four years. Got my degree in Communications with a minor in International Business, while still performing at different lounges and venues, and, then dove in to my career in full swing after graduating from Lynn in 2016.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Even before Kendra Erika dropped her debut single “Oasis,” Popmatters.com was on the cutting edge of the impact to come, touting the explosive pop/dance singer as an artist who “updates the Bond Girl framework to 21st Century terms, an embrace of glamour and sexuality as an empowering tool.” The Boca Raton, FL native’s been a prolific charting powerhouse ever since, scoring a total of five Billboard Top Ten dance hits and hitting #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 2019 with “Self-Control,” which put a fresh futuristic new age twist to the 1984 pop/dance hit by Laura Branigan. Produced by Grammy Award winning producer Damon Sharpe and Eric Sanicola, the track surpassed the success of the original, which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. One of the biggest dance hits of the year, Kendra’s version earned her a spot on the chart’s Year End Top 30.
In the wake of her breakthrough to the pole position with “Self-Control,” Kendra has been on one of the most dynamic runs of her career, infusing much-needed pop/dance joy into the pandemic era – and amassing over four million YouTube views – with a total of 11 singles since the spring of 2020. These include her Billboard Top Ten hit “So Fly,” which also hit the Top Ten on the UK dance charts, and the recent smash “Rapture,” which reached #4 on the UK Music Week Commercial Pop chart and #3 on the MusicWeek chart. While still being played throughout Europe (from Ibiza to Liverpool), the track is also gaining MediaBase radio play in many U.S. markets, including Chicago, Miami and Long Island.
The singer’s other notable singles over the past few years include a dance remake of “As Long As You’re Mine” (from Wicked) featuring two-time Tony Award winner, “Rock of Ages” star and American Idol finalist Constantin Maroulis; and her most recent track, “Come and Get It,” produced by RUNAGROUND (Andrew Kirk).
Kendra’s multitude of talents, unstoppable creative flow and unique career vision has catapulted her into a rare creative space where the top producers and remixers in the dance/pop world are all eager to create tracks with her. In addition to Sharpe (Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez) and RUNAGROUND, she has worked over the years with Luigi “LUGO” Gonzalez (Janet Jackson, Madonna, Barbra Streisand), Mark Mangold (Cher, Michael Bolton), Ronnie “Chico” DiCicco (J Lo, Rihanna, Britney Spears) and John DeNicola, best known as the songwriter behind the two mega-hits from “Dirty Dancing,” “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” and “Hungry Eyes.”
Kendra is also a popular and in-demand live performer who has opened for numerous international pop artists, including Jason Derulo. She continues to headline for large audiences, including the Tea Dance in NYC, an annual Gay Pride event where past headliners include Bette Midler and Lady Gaga.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
There is so much great music out there by undeniable artists that are not in the mainstream. If society wants to support artists, and also themselves, not always listening to the mainstream, and doing research to find those higher frequencies in underground music can elevate both aspects. Top 40 radio only has “x” amount of songs they rotate, so it’s like a program box that doesn’t offer much expansion for the mind and soul. Venturing outside of that will astound you to discover artists and songs that will resonate and hit nerves you never thought you had. It’ll leave you wondering “why isn’t this on the radio?” The more questions like this we ask ourselves and the system around us, the more the needle and the attention gets focused on those underdogs, and those with grit to offer.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
To show people you can make it without selling out or being morally compromising. Philanthropical goals are to work to end pedophilia and human trafficking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kendraerika.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendraerika/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KendraErikaMusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-erika-fulmer-6a8712b1?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kendraerika
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KendraErika
Image Credits
Tolga Katas (1, 3, 8) Johnny Jairala (5, 6, 7) Rafael Paiva (2)